Switch mechanism



c. L. HOPKINS SWITCH MECHANISVM Filed July 51, :24

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Patented @et 25, 1927.

CHARLES L. HOPKINS, OF RIVER FOREST,

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ILLINOIS, ASSISI-.TOR TO BENJAMIN .ELEC- TRIO MANUFACTURING COMANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Application lefl July 3l,

My invention relates to switch mechanisms and more speciiically to switch mechanism suitable l'or electric lamp sockets.

One ot the objects or my invention is to provide a simple switch mechanism which d will be quick in action and durable and eilicient in use.

Further objects will appear 'from the description and claims.

In the drawings, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown,

Iligure l is an axialsection of a switch socket;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 oit liig. 3 is a top View oi the interior socket construction.

Fig. l is a section on the line l-llf of F 2;

Fig; 5 is a Fin: 2;

Fig. G is an axial section on the same plane as Fig. l, showing1 the switch in ton7 position;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a switch spring;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View oif the bearing toot; and

Fig'. 9 is a perspective view ci the oscillatable switch blade member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the construction shown therein comprises a sheet metal casingv l0, shell and contact members li and i2, switch mechanism i3, wiring; terminals l/lfand l5 and an insulating bare lli on which the contacts, switch mechanism and wiring` terminals are mounted.

rl.`be casing l() comprises a cylindrical shell member 17 and a cap member itl having` a readily detachable connection with the shell and secured to the internally threaded nipple 19. rin apertured insulating` liber cap 2O is placed bet' 'een the cap le and the insulating; base 1G.

rlhe threaded shell contact l1 is held on the insulated base 16 by means of screws 2l and 22 {Fig 2). rlfhe screw is threaded into a nut 23 seated in the recess in the insulated base. The screw 2l is threaded into the binding plate 24 o1e the wiring terminal l5 and thus serves not only to hold the contact in place but also to electrically connect it with the wiring terminal.

The switch mechanism ett'ects a double break in series between the wiring terminal la and the center contact member l2. For

ction on the line 5-5 ci SWJVITCI-I IME CHANISM.

1924. Serial No. 729,210.

this purpose, the switch mechanism is provided with a pair or lined contact members and 26. The contact member 25 is formed as an integral part of a sheet metal stamping member which conprises also the center contact member lf2. This sheet metal member is held in place on the insulating base by means o't'the eyelct 27.

The other switch contact member is secured in place on the insulating base and electricailyY connected with the wiring` terminal lllby. means o't a screw QSt-hreaded into the bindingl plate Q9.

The switch mechanism further comprises a reciprocalile insulating` push bar 30 extending through the casing,l l0 and between the two parts 31 and 32 ot the insulating base, an oscill'itable switch blade member 33, (Fig. 9) having a bearing plate portion 34 engaged by the cam portion 35 of the push bar, a bearingY 'foot 3U v8) secured to the bearing plate portion Slt and a Ushaped yieldable leal spring` bearing plate member 37 T) with which the bearing toot 3G engages and on which it slips back and torth the push bar 30 is operated. The bearing toot member 37 is held against being Carried along` with the push bar 8O by means of a pair of trunnions'or pintles 38 formed integral therewith and engaging slots 89 in the insulating base. For securing the bearing toot member 3G to the bearing plate portion 3l oi the .oscillatable member, the oscillatable member is provided with a pair of slots i0 which receive the side portions il ot the bearingiioot member. The tlshaped spring` member 37 is positioned by means oli a luglf2 on the insulating` base which enters a hole a3 iiormed in the base portion oi the spring` 37.

The assembly of the switch construction is very simple. The spring,` 37 is slipped into place, the opening 48 receiving the boss 4-2. The side portions eil of the bearing foot are slipped into the slots 40 ot' the oscillatablc switch member and this sub-assembly is then slipped into placel in the insulating base, the pintles 38 entering the slots 39. The insulating base with the contacts and switch mechanism in place thereon is then slipped into place in the casing or shell member 17. The push bar 30 is then put in place, holding` the parts previously assembled in position.

As the push bar 30 is operated, the crest of the cam 35 rides along the bearing plate portion 34 and as the crest passes the point of engagement ofthe bearing foot portion 36 with the yielding member 37 the bearing plate portion 34 will be caused to oscillate and as this will cause a slip oi' the bearing foot member on the yielding member 37 this oscillation will be very rapid, causing a quick snap action of the oscillatable switch contacts 44 which cooperate with the stationary switch c-ontacts and 26 to control the circuit therebetween.

f The push bar is held in position by means ot a. lug 45 struck up from the center contact member Yl2 and entering the notch 46 on the push bar.

The lug 45 forms a spring detent :torhold- Ying the push bar in position, as the center contact member l2 will yield under pressure. ,One end V01": the notches 46 is inclined, as

indicated at 47, so that when sufiicient pressure is Vexerted'on the push'bar this inclined end of the slot will force the lug 45 downoscillatable `switch contacts 44, stationary switch contact 25, center contact member l2, shell contact 1l, and screw 21 to the-wiring terminal l5. i

While I have shown but one form ot my invention, it is obvious that it may be ernbodied in other forms` covered and delined by the` claims,

I claim: 1. A switch construction comprising` an oscillatable bearing plate, a switch blade carried thereby, abearing foot secured to said plate and offset from the plane thereof, a yieldable bearing plate slidably' engaged by said bearing Jfoot and a cam member having a crest slidable along said oscillatable bearing plate to cause said oscillatablrerbearing plate and toot to oscillate with a snap action `on said yieldable plate. y

2. A switch construction comprising an oscillatable bearing plate, a Vswitch blade carriedthereby, a bearing foot secured to said plate and offset from the plane thereof, a yieldable leaf spring bearing plate slidably engaged by said bearing foot, and a cam member having a crest slidably on said oscillatable bearing plate to cause said oscillatable bearing plate and foot to oscillate with a snap action on said yieldable plate.

3. A switch socket construction comprisingV a casing, receptacle contactshoused by said casing, and mechanism for Ycontrolling the circuit comprising an oscillatable bearing plate, a switch blade carried thereby,` a bearing toot secured to said plate and offset from the plane thereof, a yieldable leaf spring bearing plate slidably engaged by said bearing toot, and a push bar extending transversely through said casing and provided with a cam member having a crest slidable alongsaid Voscillatable bearing plate to cause said oscillatable bearing plate and foot to oscillate with a snap action on said yieldable plate.V

4. A switch socket comprising a sub-assembly, including (l) an insulating` base, (2) .shell and center' contacts mounted on said base *andV (3) wiring terminals mounted on said base, a casing for housing said subassembly, switch mechanism for controlling the circuit, including` a push bar extending through said casing and serving to hold said sub-assembly7 in said casing, said push bar being removable laterally to permit removal of said sub-assembly from said casing, said center contact being of spring material and provided with means movable therewith `for holdingl said push bar in position and being yieldable to permit withdrawal of said push bar.

In witnessv whereof, I have hereunto subscribediny name. Y y

CHARLES L.V HOPKINS. 

